Adjustable bed rail member having locking arm

ABSTRACT

An improved adjustable cross frame member for use in a bed frame having side frame members and another such adjustable cross frame member, and including first and second elongate L-shaped elements having mutually perpendicular legs. The first element is provided with a plurality of pairs of longitudinally spaced positiondefining round openings in one leg, and longitudinally elongated slots on the other leg each located between each pair of the round openings. The second elongate element is provided with a pair of rivets, longitudinally spaced to match the spacing of the round openings and matching the round openings in diameter so that upon bringing the rivet pair into registration with one of the round opening pairs corresponding to the desired position and positioning the elements in leg-abutting engagement, the rivets engage that opening pair. The second element also includes an arm pivoted on the one leg of the second element and carrying a cam portion. When the elements are in leg-abutting engagement, the cam portion is inserted through an access slot in the other leg of the second element and into engagement with a slot on the other leg of the first element to lock the elements in the selected position of adjustment.

United States Patent [1 Harris Mar. 5, 1974 ADJUSTABLE BED RAIL MEMBERHAVING LOCKING ARM [75] Inventor: George M. Harris, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Harris-Hub Company Inc., Harvey,

Filed: Mar. 9, 1973 Appl. No.: 339,871

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1973 Harris 5/181 9/1973Harris et a1. 5/200 R Primary Examiner.lames C. Mitchell [57] ABSTRACTAn improved adjustable cross frame member for use in a bed frame havingside frame members and another such adjustable cross frame member, andincluding first and second elongate L-shaped elements having mutuallyperpendicular legs. The first element is provided with a plurality ofpairs of longitudinally spaced position-defining round openings in oneleg, and longitudinally elongated slots on the other leg each locatedbetween each pair of the round openings. The second elongate element isprovided with a pair of rivets, longitudinally spaced to match thespacing of the round openings and matching the round openings indiameter so that upon bringing the rivet pair into registration with oneof the round opening pairs corresponding to the desired position andpositioning the elements in leg-abutting engagement, the rivets engagethat opening pair. The second element also includes an arm pivoted onthe one leg of the second element and carrying a cam portion. When theelements are in leg-abutting engagement, the cam portion is insertedthrough an access slot in the other leg of the second element and intoengagement with a slot on the other leg of the first element to lock theelements in the selected position of adjustment.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE BED RAIL MEMBER HAVING LOCKINGARM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to bedframes of the knock-down type and in particular to frame memberscomprised of two or more elements to be fastened together.

As is detailed in US. Pat. No. 3,646,623 to A.E. Harris and WE. Behnkefor Bed Frame Assembly, and in the related commonly assigned applicationof GM. Harris and WE. Behnke for Adjustable Bed Frame Member, Ser. No.232,474 filed Mar. 7, 1972, a problem has long existed in the artbecause conventional bed frames of the above type have not providedpositive interlocking engagement between cross frame members, and haverequired the use ofa large number of fasteners, making it time-consumingto assemble and disassemble the bed frame assembly. Furthermore, withthe advent of king size and queen size bedding, bed frame manufacturershave found it necessary to stock undesirably large inventories of bedframe assemblies of a given size, because of the complete lack of aneasily manipulable and reliable means for adjusting the width of the bedframe assembly. The inventions of the above-referenced patent andapplication have solved such problems quite well, and have met with avery considerable degree of commercial success in so doing.

In order to further accommodate the quite evident demand for bed framesresponsive to the above problems, it has also become desirable tofurnish an adjustable bed frame member having the advantages of theabove-referenced patent and application and which at the same time iseven more conveniently and rapidly adjustable, and assembled anddiassembled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the bed frame member of thepresent invention also solves the problem encountered in the prior artby providing a secure but readily releasable interlocking relationshipbetween bed frame elements which allows the bed frame to be quickly andeasily assembled to one of a plurality of desired widths. The bed framemember is useful both as a side frame member as well as a cross framemember.

The improved adjustable bed frame member of the present invention isadapted to be fastened transversely between a pair of horizontallydisposed further bed frame members so as to hold said further bed framemembers in spaced parallel relationship. The improved member includes afirst elongate L-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to oneof the pair of further bed frame members and comprised of first andsecond mutually perpendicular flat legs, the first leg of which isprovided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced position-definingopenings.

Also provided is a second elongate L-shaped elementadapted at one end tobe fastened to the other of the pair of further frame members andcomprised of first and second mutually perpendicular flat legs. Providedon the first leg of said second element is at least one protrusionextending outwardly from the first leg and adapted for respectiveinsertion within one of the openings when like legs of the elongateelements are positioned in face-abutting engagement. Depending on whichof the plurality of longitudinally spaced openings is chosen forcooperation with the protrusion, one or another of a plurality ofpossible positions of adjustment is chosen in order to give the overallmember the desired length.

In order to complete the assembly of the respective first and secondelements at the selected position of adjustment, the improved adjustablemember further includes means for retaining the first and secondelements in a selected position of adjustment. Such means includes aplurality of longitudinally spaced lock apertures in the second leg ofthe second elongate element, with one of the position-defining aperturesbeing associated with each of the openings. The retaining means alsoincludes a singleclearance aperture provided in the corresponding secondleg of the second elongate element, as well as an arm pivotally mountedat a fixed location on the first leg of the second elongate element soas to be movable toward and away from the second leg of the secondelement.

The arm has at the end opposite the pivot location a cam portionprotruding therefrom extending transversely to the axis of the arm andto the second leg of the second element when the arm is moved toward thesecond leg. With such movment, the cam portion is brought into registrywith the clearance aperture. Further, the cam portion is adaptable to beinserted through the clearance aperture and engaged within one of thelock apertures, the clearance aperture being positioned in registry witha selected one of the lock apertures when the protrusion is positionedwithin the opening associated with the selected lock aperture.

The arm has a manually graspable portion for effecting its pivotingmovement so that upon the placement of the elongate elements infaceabutting engagement with one another and the engagement of theprotrusion within the opening associated with the desired position ofadjustment, the graspable portion is manipulableto move the arm andbring the transverse cam portion into engagement through the clearanceaperture within the selected lock aperture. Upon such engagementof thecam portion, the first and second elements are locked in positively heldtogether relationship in the selected position of adjustment. The bedframe member which is thereby formed is indefinitely held together inthe desired adjustment and may be loaded just as a continu ous one-piecemember would be. Yet upon manipulating the graspable portion to withdrawthe cam portion from the lock aperture, the protrusion may be withdrawnfrom the associated opening and the member quickly and easilydisassembled or readjusted to another desired length.

The above-described adjustable frame member is at once very easily andinexpensively fabricated, yet when used in a complete bed frame providesvery strong and reliable support for box springs and mattresses ofvarious typical sizes. The elongate L-shaped elements may be provided byconventional commercially available angle iron stock, and the rivets mayalso be common commercially available items. The arm used to lock theelements in a selected adjustment may be fabricated from angle ironstock and secured in the same operation as one of the rivets. In thismanner the numerous above-described desirable advantages are obtainedwith a significant reduction in cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is anexploded view of a preferred embodiment of the improved bed frame memberof the present invention,

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a complete bed frame which includes thebed frame member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the improved memher with its elementslocked in a selected position of adjustment;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the structure in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3,showing the manner in which the elements of the improved member arelocked together in the selected position of adjustment; and

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 44 of FIG. 3,showing the position of the elements just prior to being locked togetherin the selected position of adjustment. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodimentin many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinbe described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as anexemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intendedto limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of theinvention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, the improved adjustable bed frame member 1 isshown both separately (FIG. 1), and in a complete bed frame assembly(FIG. 1A) as a cross member thereof, together with another identicalparallel spaced member 1', and with a pair of perpendicular side framemembers 2 and 3. Legs with casters 5 and box spring confining means 7are preferably provided near the ends of side members 2 and 3. Othertypes of side members or legs may also be used, or the improved memberof the invention may itself be used as a side member. In the illustratedusage, however, the member 1 is a cross frame member and provides for arapid and positive adjustment of the bed frame assembly (as shown by thedotted-line position) to accommodate bedding of various sizes, includingking, queen, regular, and twin sizes, as will be described below.

Improved adjustable bed frame member 1, as best appreciated from FIG. 1,comprises L-shaped elongated elements 11 and 12, with element 11including first and second mutually perpendicular legs 13 and 14 ofsimilar transverse width, and with element 12 also including first andsecond mutually perpendicular legs 13' and 14' of similar transversewidth and matching legs 13 and 14. Both elements 11 and 12 are adaptedto be fastened at their opposed ends 15 and 16 to respective side framemembers 2 and 3. In such use, the elements 11 and 12 are positioned sothat both leg portions 13 and 13 are vertically oriented, and both legportions 14 and 14' extend outwardly horizontally from the upper edgesof legs 13 and 13 respectively and in the same sense. Elements 11 and 12may be formed of commercially available angle iron stock, and'hence arerelatively inexpensive.

Element 11 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs19, 20, 21 and 22 of round openings or holes 18 lying along a commonline in vertical leg 13 generally medially of the leg. The spacingbetween the holes of each pair is the same, and a hole may in fact becommon to two such pairs of holes as illustrated by hole pairs 20 and21; likewise, the hole pairs may be longitudinally spaced from oneanother, as is pair 19 from pair 20. Each hole pair defines a positionof adjustment; thus hole pair 22 corresponds the widest position ofadjustment of member 1, while hole pair 21 corresponds to a first medialposition of adjustment, hole pair 20 corresponds to a second medialposition of adjustment, and slot pair 19 corresponds to the narrowestposition of adjustment. These positions relate to bedding of king,queen, regular, and twin sizes, respectively.

Element 11 is further provided with a plurality of lock apertures orslots 24 on leg 14 all lying along a common line generally medially ofleg 14, parallel to leg 13, and elongated in the longitudinal direction.Each hole pair 19 through 22 has associated with it one of the slots 24,and in the illustrated embodiment a slot 24 is positioned generallymidway between the holes of each of the pairs 19 through 22, although itshould be recognized that the slots 24 may also be positioned elsewhere.Neither do the lock slots 24 necessarily need to be positioned mediallyof leg 14, but rather they also may be positioned to one side or anotherof the leg, or transversely thereof.

A pair of rivets 28 and 28 having cylindrical shanks are secured toelement 12 near the end opposite end 16 so that the heads thereof aresubstantially flush with leg 13' on one side thereof, and the shanksthereof extend through leg 13', and outwardly of the other side thereofin the same sense as leg 14'. As in the case of the holes 18, the rivetsare positioned generally medially of leg 13 in a line parallel with leg14, and are longitudinally spaced apart a distance equal to the holes ofa pair, as may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The portions 30 and 30 of theshanks of each rivet which extend outwardly from leg 13' are slightlysmaller in diameter than the circular holes 18, while the height of theshank portions is preferably larger than the thickness of the leg 13, sothat the shank portions 30 and 30' extend through and beyond leg 13 whenfully inserted into holes 18.

It should be recognized that the positions of the rivets 28 and theholes 18 may be reversed, with the rivets secured to leg 13, while theholes are made within leg 13; likewise, instead of the correspondinglegs 13 and 13' of the members 11 and 12, the corresponding legs 14 and14 of the elements may instead be used for the rivets and holes. Inaddition, the rivets 28, 28' and holes 18 need not necessarily be placedmedially of their respective legs; rather, it is only necessary thatrivets 28 and holes 18 be located in the same position relative to thelongitudinal edges of their respective legs 13 and 13' so that uponpositioning of the legs 13 and 13 in abutting relationship, leg 14' alsooverlies leg 14 in abutting relationship. Furthermore, other similarmale and female means, for example, protruding members of otherconfigurations with corresponding matching receptacle provisions, mayalso be used with equal advantage.

Element 12 is further provided with a clearance slot 34 elongatedlongitudinally and of configuration similar to one of slots 24, andlocated on leg 14' generally midway between rivets 28. Also, clearanceaperture 34, like slots 24, is positioned generally medially of itsassociated leg, so that when like legs of the elements 1 l and 12 are inface-abutting relationship and the rivets 18 and 18 engage one of thehole pairs, clearance slot 34 will be generally in registration with oneof slots 24. Element 12 is further provided with a locking arm 32 (seeFIGS. 4A and 4B particularly) having a cam portion 33 which cooperateswith clearance slot 34 and one of the lock slots 24 to lock the elementstogether in a selected position of adjustment. Although preferablyclearance slot 34 and lock slots 24 are of the same configuration, thisis not necessary, but at least their corresponding inner longitudinalsides 24' nearest to arm 32 should be located in alignment when theelements are in faceabutting engagement.

Locking arm 32 is comprised of two mutually perpendicular generally flatmain flanges 36 and 38, the former of which constitutes the main bodyportion of the arm, as well as a cam portion 33 integral with flange 38,and a manually graspable tab 40 integral with flange 36. Member 32 isattached to element 12 by means of main body portion or flange 36, whichis longitudinally elongated and is pivoted at one end thereof aboverivet 28' so that it is held against leg 13' and pivots in the plane ofthat leg in an arcuate path to move the flange 38 toward and away fromleg 14'. At the end of arm 32 opposite its pivot, cam portion 33 extendsfrom flange 38 generally parallel to and transversely spaced from mainbody portion 36 generally matching the transverse distance from leg 13'to clearance slot 34. Thus, cam portion 33 is generally aligned withclearance slot 34; however, at least the lower section 33A of cam 33 isinwardly offset toward main body portion or flange 36, with thelongitudinal leading edge or tip 33B outwardly or reversely offset. Theinward offset of section 33A causes it to be aligned at or slightlyinwardly of aligned sides 24' of slots 24 and 34, while the outwardoffset of edge 33B permits cam 33 to smoothly engage slot 34 initially(see FIG. 4B) despite the inward offset of section 33A. Since arm 32must reach between its pivot mounting location at rivet 18 to clearanceslot 34, its longitudinal length matches the distance between rivet 18'and clearance slot 34. Similarly, the longitudinal length of cam portion33 is somewhat smaller than that of the slots 24 and 34, with the lengthof arm 32 and the placement of cam portion 34 at its end insuringregistration between the slots and cam.

Cam portion 33 of arm 32 is of a generally rectangular configuration,but with the transverse leading edge 33C (FIG. 3) opposite rivet 28'being cut away to permit insertion and withdrawal of cam 33 is theaforementioned arcuate path with the pivoting of arm 32. The height ofcam portion 33 is at least equal to the combined thickness of legs 14and 14 and preferably greater so that the cam extends completely throughboth legs 14 and 14' and protrudes beyond leg 14 when fully inserted, asmay be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4A. Flange 38, which at one end thereofprimarily serves as a bridge between flange 36 and cam 33, is also cutaway near its other end adjacent the pivot location. Manually graspabletab 40 extends outwardly from flange 36 at the end of flange 36 oppositethe pivot location, and at the opposite edge and in the opposite sensefrom flange 38. For ease of manipulation, tab 40 is inclined andsemicircular in configuration as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with flange 36being slightly laterally offset so that tab 40 is aligned with rivet28'.

Assembly of the elements 11 and 12 is a simple twostep operation whichmay be executed very rapidly. First, elements 11 and 12 are broughttogether so that like corresponding legs are in face-abuttingengagement, and the shanks 30 and 30' of rivets 28 and 28 are inengagement with one of the hole pairs 19 through 22. The particular holepair which is selected for use with the rivet shanks is determined bythe length adjustment which is desired to be selected for the completemember 10, with the shortest adjustment being that associated with holepair 19, and the longest adjustment being that associated with hole pair22. During this initial assembly step, arm 32 is maintained in aposition away from access slot 34, or at least in a position wherein itscam portion does not penetrate this slot to protrude beyond leg 14. Itwill be appreciated that with the engagement of the rivet shanks withina hole pair, relative longitudinal movement of elements 11 and 12 isprevented, as well as the separation of legs 14 and 14, althoughrelative movement may still take place laterally along the rivet shanksand thus separation of legs 13 and 13', as well as sliding movementbetween legs 14 and 14 in connection therewith, is still possible.

In order to preclude such lateral movement in the direction of therivets and thus fully lock the members 11 and 12 in the selectedposition of adjustment, locking arm 32 is grasped by means of tab 40 andpivoted toward leg 14' and clearance aperture 34. In its initialposition (FIG. 4B), leading edge 33B bears against the inner lateraledge of clearance slot 34. With further movement, edge 33B moveslaterally outwardly, spreading the remainder of cam portion 33, whichpasses into clearance slot 34 as well as the selected one of the lockslots 24, until finally flange 38 lies flat against leg 14'. Carnportion 33A at this point resiliently bears against aligned side 24' ofthe selected one of lock apertures 24, thereby positively biasing legs13 and 13 and elements 11 and 12 together in a clamplike manner betweencam 33 and main body portion 36. When fully inserted, cam portion 33protrudes from the opposite side of leg 14 adjacent the protrudingportions of the rivet shanks, as shown in FIG. 4A. As earlier indicatedin connection with slots 24, cam 33 may be spaced from flange 36 to agreater or lesser degree than shown, if slots 24 and 34 are positionedto one side or another of their legs, rather than medially; similarly,the cam may be positioned transversely to its present longitudinalorientation, to accommodate transverse clearance and lock slots.

Once cam portion 33 is in its fully inserted position, because of itsbiasing inward offset, the members 11 and 12 are thus positively lockedagainst separation in the position of adjustment previously selected bychoosing one of the longitudinally spaced hole pairs 19-22 with which toengage rivet pair 18-18. The legs of the respective elements cannotseparate nor move laterally nor longitudinally with resepect to eachother, and the result is a rigid cross rail 1 having a selected one of aplurality of available lengths whose rigidity and adjustment ismaintained indefinitely yet which is instantly modifiable ordisassembled by manipulating tab 40 to swing arm 32 and cam 33 away fromslots 24 and 34 and withdrawing rivet shanks 30 and 30 from engagementwith the selected hole pair, whereupon a new adjustment may be selected,if desired.

I claim:

1. An adjustable elongated bed frame member adapted to be fastenedtransversely between a pair of horizontally disposed further bed framemembers so as to hold said further bed frame members in spaced parallelrelationship, said adjustable member comprising: a first elongateL-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to one of said pairof further bed frame members and comprised of first and second mutuallyperpendicular flat legs, said first leg being provided with a pluralityof longitudinally spaced positiondefining openings, a second elongateL-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to the other of saidpair of further frame members and comprised of first and second mutuallyperpendicular flat legs, said first leg of said second element beingprovided with at least one protrusion extending outwardly from saidfirst leg, said protrusion being adapted for respective insertion withinone of said openings when like legs of said elongate elements arepositioned in face-abutting engagement in a selected position ofadjustment; and means for retaining said first and second elements insaid selected position of adjustment, said means including a pluralityof longitudinally spaced, lock apertures provided in said second leg ofsaid second elongate element, with one of said apertures beingassociated with each of said openings, and a single clearance apertureprovided in the corresponding second leg of said second elongateelement, said retaining means further including an arm pivotally mountedat a fixed location on said first leg of said second elongate element soas to be movable toward and away from said second leg of said secondelement, said arm having at the end opposite said pivot location a camportion protruding therefrom transversely to the axis of said arm and tosaid second leg of said second element, said cam portion being broughtinto registry with said clearance aperture when said arm is moved towardsaid second leg of said second element, and being adaptable to beinserted through said clearance aperture and engage within one of saidlock apertures, said clearance aperture being positioned in registrywith a selected one of said lock apertures when said protrusion ispositioned within said opening associated with said selectedposition-defining aperture, whereby said arm is manipulable to bringsaid transverse cam portion into engagement through said clearanceaperture within said selected lock aperture to lock said first andsecond elongate elements in positively held-together relationship in aselected position of adjustment until release by pivotally moving saidarm to withdraw said cam from said lock aperture and withdrawing saidprotrusion from the associated position-defining opening.

2. A bed frame member as in claim 1, in which said plurality ofposition-defining openings are arranged in pairs, said firstleg of saidsecond element is provided with a pair of protrusions spaced apartlongitudinally by a distance substantially equal to the distance betweenthe openings of one of said opening pairs, and one of said lockapertures is associated with each of said opening pairs.

3. A bed frame member as in claim 2, in which each one of said lockapertures is positioned between said openings of each pair, and at leasttwo of said opening pairs share one of said openings in common.

4. A bed frame member as in claim 1, in which each of said openings isof similar size and circular in form and said protrusion is cylindrical,with a diameter matching that of said openings.

5. A bed frame member as in claim 4, in which said pair of cylindricalprotrusions is provided by a pair of rivets, with one of said rivetsalso pivotally mounting said arm.

6. A bed frame member as in claim 4, in which the height of thecylindrical protrusion is greater than the thickness of said first legof said first element.

7. A bed frame member as in claim 1, in which each of saidposition-defining apertures lies along a common line parallel to saidfirst leg of said first element, and both said lock apertures and saidclearance apertures are longitudinally elongated.

8. A bed frame member as in claim 7, wherein the first and second legsof the elongate elements are of matching transverse width, both saidclearance aperture and said lock apertures are positioned generallymedially of their respective legs, and both said circular opening pairsand said rivet pairs are positioned generally medially of theirrespective legs.

9. A bed frame member as in claim 1, in which said arm includes a firstflange portion movable toward and away from a position parallel withsaid second legs of said second elongate element and extending to saidclearance aperture, said first flange portion carrying said cam portionprotruding perpendicularly therefrom as well as being positionedperpendicularly to said second leg of said second element when insertedthrough said clearance aperture.

10. A bed frame member as in claim 9, in which said arm further includesa longitudinally elongate second flange portion pivotally mounted at oneend thereof upon said first leg of said second elongate element andpivoting in the plane of said first leg, said first and second flangesbeing mutually perpendicular, said cam portion and said second flangeportion being generally parallel.

l l. A bed frame member as in claim 10, in which said access and lockapertures are in the form of longitudinally elongated slots parallel tosaid first legs of their respective elements, and said cam portion andsecond flange portion are separated by a transverse spacing matching thetransverse spacing between said clearance aperture and said first leg.

12. An adjustable elongated bed frame member adjustable to a pluralityof positions of differing length comprising: a first elongateL-shapedelement comprised of first and second flat legs; a secondelongate L-shaped element comprised of first and second flat legs, oneof said elements having a clearance opening, and the other of saidelements having a plurality of lock apertures respectively correspondingto each of said positions; cooperating male and female means on each ofsaid elements corresponding to said positions and engaged when said legsare positioned in face-abutting engagement to locate one side of saidclearance opening in alignment with a corresponding side of one of saidlock openings in a selected position of adjustment; means for lockingsaid elements in said selected position of adjustment, said meansincluding a locking arm with a main body portion pivotally mounted onsaid one angle iron, said arm having at the end opposite said pivotloation a cam portion spaced from said main body portion and generallyaligned with said clearance open- 13. An adjustable elongated bed framemember as in claim 12, in which said clearance aperture and said lockapertures are longitudinally elongated and similar in configuration, andthe aligned sides of the apertures being the like inner longitudinalsides nearest said main body portion of said arm.

1. An adjustable elongated bed frame member adapted to be fastenedtransversely between a pair of horizontally disposed further bed framemembers so as to hold said further bed frame members in spaced parallelrelationship, said adjustable member comprising: a first elongateL-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to one of said pairof further bed frame members and comprised of first and second mutuallyperpendicular flat legs, said first leg being provided with a pluralityof longitudinally spaced position-defining openings, a second elongateL-shaped element adapted at one end to be fastened to the other of saidpair of further frame members and comprised of first and second mutuallyperpendicular flat legs, said first leg of said second element beingprovided with at least one protrusion extending outwardly from saidfirst leg, said protrusion being adapted for respective insertion withinone of said openings when like legs of said elongate elements arepositioned in face-abutting engagement in a selected position ofadjustment; and means for retaining said first and second elements insaid selected position of adjustment, said means including a pluralityof longitudinally spaced, lock apertures provided in said second leg ofsaid second elongate element, with one of said apertures beingassociated with each of said openings, and a single clearance apertureprovided in the corresponding second leg of said second elongateelement, said retaining means further including an arm pivotally mountedat a fixed location on said first leg of said second elongate element soas to be movable toward and away from said second leg of said secondelement, said arm having at the end opposite said pivot locatioN a camportion protruding therefrom transversely to the axis of said arm and tosaid second leg of said second element, said cam portion being broughtinto registry with said clearance aperture when said arm is moved towardsaid second leg of said second element, and being adaptable to beinserted through said clearance aperture and engage within one of saidlock apertures, said clearance aperture being positioned in registrywith a selected one of said lock apertures when said protrusion ispositioned within said opening associated with said selectedposition-defining aperture, whereby said arm is manipulable to bringsaid transverse cam portion into engagement through said clearanceaperture within said selected lock aperture to lock said first andsecond elongate elements in positively heldtogether relationship in aselected position of adjustment until release by pivotally moving saidarm to withdraw said cam from said lock aperture and withdrawing saidprotrusion from the associated position-defining opening.
 2. A bed framemember as in claim 1, in which said plurality of position-definingopenings are arranged in pairs, said first leg of said second element isprovided with a pair of protrusions spaced apart longitudinally by adistance substantially equal to the distance between the openings of oneof said opening pairs, and one of said lock apertures is associated witheach of said opening pairs.
 3. A bed frame member as in claim 2, inwhich each one of said lock apertures is positioned between saidopenings of each pair, and at least two of said opening pairs share oneof said openings in common.
 4. A bed frame member as in claim 1, inwhich each of said openings is of similar size and circular in form andsaid protrusion is cylindrical, with a diameter matching that of saidopenings.
 5. A bed frame member as in claim 4, in which said pair ofcylindrical protrusions is provided by a pair of rivets, with one ofsaid rivets also pivotally mounting said arm.
 6. A bed frame member asin claim 4, in which the height of the cylindrical protrusion is greaterthan the thickness of said first leg of said first element.
 7. A bedframe member as in claim 1, in which each of said position-definingapertures lies along a common line parallel to said first leg of saidfirst element, and both said lock apertures and said clearance aperturesare longitudinally elongated.
 8. A bed frame member as in claim 7,wherein the first and second legs of the elongate elements are ofmatching transverse width, both said clearance aperture and said lockapertures are positioned generally medially of their respective legs,and both said circular opening pairs and said rivet pairs are positionedgenerally medially of their respective legs.
 9. A bed frame member as inclaim 1, in which said arm includes a first flange portion movabletoward and away from a position parallel with said second legs of saidsecond elongate element and extending to said clearance aperture, saidfirst flange portion carrying said cam portion protrudingperpendicularly therefrom as well as being positioned perpendicularly tosaid second leg of said second element when inserted through saidclearance aperture.
 10. A bed frame member as in claim 9, in which saidarm further includes a longitudinally elongate second flange portionpivotally mounted at one end thereof upon said first leg of said secondelongate element and pivoting in the plane of said first leg, said firstand second flanges being mutually perpendicular, said cam portion andsaid second flange portion being generally parallel.
 11. A bed framemember as in claim 10, in which said access and lock apertures are inthe form of longitudinally elongated slots parallel to said first legsof their respective elements, and said cam portion and second flangeportion are separated by a transverse spacing matching the transversespacing between said clearance aperture and said first leg.
 12. Anadjustable elongated bed frame member adJustable to a plurality ofpositions of differing length comprising: a first elongate L-shapedelement comprised of first and second flat legs; a second elongateL-shaped element comprised of first and second flat legs, one of saidelements having a clearance opening, and the other of said elementshaving a plurality of lock apertures respectively corresponding to eachof said positions; cooperating male and female means on each of saidelements corresponding to said positions and engaged when said legs arepositioned in face-abutting engagement to locate one side of saidclearance opening in alignment with a corresponding side of one of saidlock openings in a selected position of adjustment; means for lockingsaid elements in said selected position of adjustment, said meansincluding a locking arm with a main body portion pivotally mounted onsaid one angle iron, said arm having at the end opposite said pivotloation a cam portion spaced from said main body portion and generallyaligned with said clearance opening, with at least a section of said camportion being offset toward said main body portion whereby when saidlocking arm is pivoted toward said one element, said cam portion movesthrough said clearance opening and said one aligned lock opening and theoffset section of said cam portion bears against the aligned side ofsaid lock opening to positively hold said other element against lateralmovement relative to said one element.
 13. An adjustable elongated bedframe member as in claim 12, in which said clearance aperture and saidlock apertures are longitudinally elongated and similar inconfiguration, and the aligned sides of the apertures being the likeinner longitudinal sides nearest said main body portion of said arm.